Pages

Friday, April 29, 2011

God Gave Us Two by Lisa Tawn Bergren is a sweet story about a polar bear family who is preparing their only child for the upcoming birth of a new baby. Little Cub is very curious when the new baby will come and what being a big sister will be like, but most of all she wonders why a new baby is coming. Mama and Papa Bear remind her that she is a special gift from God as well as the new baby. They keep saying over and over, "God gave us you and now He's given us two." The best promise was that no one would ever take Little Cub's place. At the end of the book there is a special surprise!

I really liked this cute children's book about a family welcoming a new baby. We are currently at that stage in our life as I'm ready to give birth to our second within a week. I've been trying to find a book that expresses how I want to share about the coming baby to our two year old. I really like how this bear family constantly reminded their little cub of the love they have for her, but that both children are a gift from God. Everytime I read this to my son he lights up when he hears the special words, "God gave us you and now He's given us two." The artwork is also very appealing and shows the beautiful expressions of the bears as they interact together. What a great baby shower gift to give to someone expecting their second child!

*This book was provided to me free of charge by Blogging For Books for purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion of this book and no monetary compensation was received for my opinion.*

I wrote this letter on March 27, 2011. I will include it in the baby book.

Dear Baby Surprise,
Only 6 more weeks until I get to meet you. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I actually didn't even know you were growing inside of me until you were 13 weeks. The minute I saw you on the ultrasound I couldn't believe it! You captured my heart!

We named you Baby Surprise because we didn't find out about you right away- surprise! Also, this whole time we don't know if you are a boy or a girl. We can't wait to find out.

I have felt really good this whole pregnancy. The hardest thing was that I really am craving sweet things and I can eat breakfast all day. I have a really hard time making dinners and I'd rather eat out!

Shrade calls you "Baby Prize." I'm trying to get him excited about being a big brother.

One of the most special parts about being pregnant is feeling you move. I love to see your little body moving inside of me! I wonder what you are doing. I will really miss that. I feel so close to you and I just thank God for allowing me to be your mommy.

I cannot wait to hold you in my arms and look into your eyes, kiss your face and cuddle close. I am looking forward to being your mommy. I pray for you all the time and I pray that God will help me to be the best mommy for you.

I have SO much to do to get ready for you. I am trying to move out all of Shrade's things and bring in all the baby stuff. You will have a special place just for you!

I can't wait to see you and hold you for the first time. I want to know if you are a boy or a girl and give you the special name that we have chosen for you.

I'm so excited and I cry for joy at the anticipation of welcoming you into our little family.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

I have been waiting for Spring to actually appear here in my area. It's the season of new beginnings, planting and enjoying the warm days of pleasant bike rides and walks before the heat of summer sets in! This Spring is exceptionally special to our family because we are welcoming baby number two in about a week! I'm so happy to be a mother again and hold my newborn especially on Mother's Day! I'll probably get my Mother's Day cards out a little later this year since I would want to include our new baby, but Shutterfly has some great products that will help me in creating the perfect Mother's Day gifts for the special women in my life. There is nothing more precious to a grandma that receiving cards with their grandchildren on them.

And what grandma wouldn't love to carry around a keepsake with a precious grandchild picture on it. There are so many unique and special gifts for mom that you can choose to bless the wonderful mother in your life!

And of course, after I have my baby, I'll want to thank all my friends who have blessed me so much with their gifts to me with a thank you card featuring my new baby.

So take time to celebrate Spring with Mother's Day, thank you notes, announcements for babies and graduation from Shutterfly's vast collection of unique and lovely products.

And by the way, if you have a blog, sign up for a chance to receive 50 free cards from Shutterfly.

Journey of Honor: A Love Story by Jaclyn M. Hawkes is a sweet love story that takes place in the mid 1800's. Trace Grayson is a driver for a wagon train who also studied as a doctor. He decided to move away from the bigotry of the South after the Civil War and began taking wagon trains west. Giselle is a young beautiful Dutch woman traveling with her grandparents to make up the much needed last wagon of the train. Just as they are about to leave, Giselle is confronted by a low life named Filson who accuses her of stealing from him. He wants to have her put in jail which jeopardizes the departure of the wagon train. Trace decides the only way to save Giselle and the wagon train is to marry her. In name only, Trace and Giselle are united but as the journey begins, they encounter many tragic obstacles that threaten their lives. Trace begins to care for Giselle and she starts to fall in love with him. However, at the end of the journey, their advance decision was to have the marriage annulled so Giselle could live with the people of her Mormon background. Throughout their time together, Trace and Giselle become emotionally attached which makes the parting so much more sorrowful when they finally reach their destination. Will Trace and Giselle make a decision to sever their love?

This book was a fast read and I was immediately enchanted by the depth of each character. This truly was a book that portrayed honor as a very high virtue even among so much emotion. I loved the interaction between Trace and Giselle, but was sad at how much Giselle held back very pertinent information. However, it made for a great story and helped to keep the drama and suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book and I hope to read more from this author.

*This book was provided to me free of charge by Media Guests for purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion of this book and no monetary compensation was received for my opinion.*

Win it: I am having a giveaway for this book. Open to US only and giveaway ends Sunday, May 8. (Note: book will be sent at the end of the month)

To enter: Be sure to click on all the links before filling out the entry form.

Go back to the time of one room schoolhouses, small towns where everyone knows everyone else's business, before women were allowed to vote and the town council decided the fate of the teacher. Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer is that novel! Edythe Amsel worked her whole life trying to leave her family she was forced to raise to be an independent school teacher. She came to Walnut Hill with one goal in mind- to teach, and do it well. According to the townspeople, her teaching methods were unusual, but the students learned and enjoyed going to school for once. Despite many invitations from eligible young men, Edythe refused male attention so she could focus on her career. She wasn't prepared to meet Joel Townsend who was the endearing uncle of two of her students. They became good friends and secretly held crushes for each other until Joel finds out some surprising facts about Miss Amsel that alter his pursuit. Despite the misbehavior of a head strong student and her continued "radical" teaching practices, Edythe remains confident. It isn't until a tragic situation brings her to her knees before God and allows her to finally embrace Him and the attentions of a certain young farmer.

I thoroughly enjoyed every part of this book. There was drama, suspense, comedy and romance. Kim's writing style is full of colorful descriptions and fascinating interactions of the characters. She captured the spirit of the era by providing an inviting setting in a small town. I found it interesting and equally delightful that the main character was not a Christian, but through special circumstances found God's way. Because teaching was my former profession, I was taken in by Courting Miss Amsel. Kim Vogel Sawyer is my new favorite author!

*This book was provided to me free of charge by Bethany House Publishers for purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion of this book and no monetary compensation was received for my opinion.*

Win it: I am having a giveaway for this book. Open to US only and giveaway ends Sunday, May 8. (Note: book will be sent at the end of the month)

To enter: Be sure to click on all the links before filling out the entry form.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

So week 2 was about Jonathan's friendship with David and King Saul's mounting jealousy against David. Here is what I learned:

*God has made a covenant with me that lasts forever.
*I learned that jealousy OF someone is evil and jealousy FOR someone is godly.
*God is more powerful than the wickedness in this world.
*Keep God at the center of my friendships.
*God is my sustainer and provider. No obstacle is greater than my God!

Friday, April 22, 2011

As much as I've enjoyed clearing clutter out of my house for the last 4 months, it's time for me to take a break, not because I'm giving up, but I will be entering a new phase of life in a few weeks. Yes, my baby #2 is going to arrive on May 6 and I'm so excited. Everything is pretty much ready. I probably won't be doing much cleaning in the next month (ugh!), but I know that caring for my newborn and being with my toddler are more important. But I will be back in the summer maybe every other week to get started on cleaning again. I still have so many areas left. I'm surprised that I kept at it this long. It's been great accountability for me. See you in the summer!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

So I was craving something chocolate and I saw this come up on Facebook from one of my favorite cooking blogs: Lynn's Kitchen Adventures. It was Homemade Brownie Mix. Well, I couldn't resist! So I made the actual brownies with some of my own additives.

So for the flour I used a Super Flour recipe that I got from Super Baby Food:
Combine 1 cup white flour, one cup wheat flour and one cup wheat germ.

Also, instead of putting one cup of butter in the brownie mix I put in a 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 oil.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

I am starting this absolutely fabulous Bible study by Beth Moore called David...Seeking a Heart Like His. I just really want to share with you what I'm learning here on my God's Nuggets post in the next few months.

So every week we have 5 days of homework. At the end of each day I'm writing what God is teaching in that lesson.

*God wants me to know him- Heart and Soul!
*God wants my full and humble obedience.
*Because God looks on the inside, may I also do the same with others and work on my inside as well.
*God wants me to use both tenderness and strength with the power of the Holy Spirit inside me.
*God wants me to have faith in him because he is living and active and the only one to give victory.

Let me tell you, there is SO much more in these lessons, but you'll have to find out for yourself! In the meantime, I'll keep sharing what God is teaching me. ;)

Recently I agreed to review Oxygen Bleach from Tropical Traditions. I have never used a product like this before and was very curious to see how it worked. I have a lot of clothes with some tough stains. Because it is safe for all colors and most fabrics, I put it to the test. This product is not fast acting since I had to soak my clothes overnight, but the results are amazing and worth it. There are many other uses for this product as well: kitchen, bathroom, yard, household, camping and wood decks. The best thing about this product is that it is chlorine free and has no harmful ingredients. This is definitely a product I would keep on hand.

When you place your order please use my ID # to get your FREE book: 6015262 in the "Referred by a Friend". (Thank you!) You can also obtain your own complimentary copy of Virgin Coconut Oil book through the Referral program if you are ordering for the first time. Please click: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/referral_program.htm for more info. The book will be automatically be added to your order. I encourage you to look through the website for some great products. I have already tried the Lavender Natural Deodorant (aluminum free), the Organic Shredded Coconut, the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, Coconut Peanut Butter, Raw Honey, Powdered Laundry Detergent, Skin Exfoliator, Liquid Dish soap and Anti oxidant natural greens. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter to get updated information on products and sales.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

In The Lightkeeper's Ball (A Mercy Falls Novel) by Colleen Coble, Olivia Stewart travels west to California to uncover the mysterious death of her sister who was engaged to Harrison Bennett. Olivia, who comes from an elite family, is expected to marry well and possibly entertain a marriage to Harrison Bennett who she believes killed her sister. Olivia decides to arrive in Mercy Falls as Lady Devonworth. She encounters many near death experiences as someone is determined for her not to find out the truth about her sister. And as much as she hates and fears Bennett, she finds he is not the man she thought he was and begins to fall in love with him. Will Olivia discover what happened to her sister and what will happen when she reveals her true identity at the Lightkeeper's Ball?

This is the first book I read by Colleen Coble and I must say I expected the romance, but was surprised and pleased by the mystery. I did think it was a bit confusing for Olivia to conceal her identity where some people knew her and others did not. I also was distracted by the telling of the story from different perspectives. However, I was completely intrigued by the society of the turn of the century and the descriptions of that very early era with speaking tubes in the house and primitive airplanes. I thought the plot was very well written, but there were far too many characters who were interrelated to keep organized in my mind.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Win it: I am having a giveaway for this book. Open to US only and giveaway ends Sunday, April 24. (Note: book will be sent at the end of the month)

To enter: Be sure to click on all the links before filling out the entry form.

Friday, April 15, 2011

This week I tackled 2 closets: the baby room and my own. I have to combine a few cleaning projects since I most likely will take off the month of May as I'm due to have my baby on May 6. There has been nothing more motivating than having an upcoming addition to our house to get me cleaning. I'm also thankful for this challenge because it's DO-ABLE!! I'm a type of person who wants to clean everything at once and then I get discouraged because I can't get everything done. These bite size chunks have been just perfect and I KNOW I can accomplish one thing in one week. Thanks, Laura!

Baby closet- B4

Baby closet- AFTER

Other side- B4

Other side- AFTER

Before- my gift closet

After- my gift closet

I just want to say something about my gift closet. If you saw in the first picture I had this HUGE gift bag where I put all of the gift bags that I've been given since 1996 (yes, I still have some from my first Christmas as a teacher). I do use some of them, but a lot I don't, so I purged. I also have been collecting gifts for family members for Christmas because I hate to wait until the last minute. I organized those and made a list of what goes to who. I have to get this taken care of and also I put more thought into what I want to give.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

So I have to apologize that I didn't take any pictures of this. I had a rough evening the day I made this so just take my word for it: Yummy!

Grease crockpot.
Cut up 1/2-1 onion (depending on how much you like) and lay on bottom of crockpot.
Slice up 6 medium red potatoes and lay on top of onions.
Sprinkle salt and pepper and seasoning (I used summer savory).
Put green beans on top this.
Place 4 chicken breasts on top of potatoes (boneless or bone in). Also my chicken was frozen.
Combine one can cream of mushroom soup with one can of milk and pour on top.
Sprinkle with garlic powder and more summer savory.

Cook in crockpot at least 4 hours (be sure chicken is cooked and potatoes are soft).

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Beside Still Waters: A Big Sky Novel by Tricia Goyer is a novel based on a true story. Marianna Sommer is a young Amish woman who dreams about love and having her own family. She is forever haunted by the tragedy that occurred on the day of her birth. On that day, the two oldest daughters of the Sommer family were killed and Marianna was born soon after. Her name was a combination of the lost daughters, Marilyn and Joanna. But more than that, for her whole life, Marianna thought that she had to make up for the loss and never accepted the love she was offered by her parents. She was the perfect Amish daughter who dutifully helped her family despite wanting to pursue her own dreams. She followed her family when they moved from Indiana to Montana, leaving behind an Amish man who she hoped to be united with in marriage. As she enters Montana, everything is different and she finds herself forming an uncomfortable, yet exciting friendship with a handsome English man. Through her interactions with Ben, she learns more about a personal relationship with God and eventually gives all her fears, hopes and dreams to the Lord.

I am always interested in Amish stories and I like that this one was based on a true story. The first third of the book was a little monotonous,, but once the family moved to Montana, the author seemed to strike a rich storytelling adventure. I really enjoyed the friendly tension between Marianna and Ben. The end of the book made me cry with Marianna's revelation from her family. I guess you'll just have to read to find out. I sincerely hope there is a sequel because many things were left unresolved.

*This book was provided to me free of charge by Litfuse Hens for purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion of this book and no monetary compensation was received for my opinion.*

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Last week my sister came to do a maternity photo shoot. She has recently launched her own photography business and it's amazing! I was so nervous to have her come because I don't feel very photogenic, but I thought she did a fantastic job and I'm so happy to have these memories.

You can visit my talented sis on her blog: Kaptured by Koren and Facebook. Even if you just go look at her pics, you will be in for a sweet treat! I love my sis!

Note:
I just finished Beth Moore's Revelation Study and I must say it has been my least favorite as far as the set up. But I'm a little biased because I missed several sessions in this mainly lecture series so I was confused and unconnected. I'm sure that if I applied myself and was able to make all the sessions I would feel differently. However, the videos were very good even if they were more than an hour long. It's worth it to take if you can commit to watching every session.

2018 Homemaker's Friend Daily Planner

Make Over Your Mornings

Dressing Your Truth

Here's my new button!

About Me

My husband and I have been married for 12 years and we have an energetic and curious 8 year old son and a happy yet feisty 5 year old girl! I am a SAHM (after 12 years of teaching K) and we are very healthy and strive to be holy. Come join me as I explore life as a mom, cooking, faith and organizing. Don't forget to head over to my Milk N' Honey blog for teaching and homeschool ideas

The More The Merrier!

Can't find it, search here!

Get the Knowlton Nest news by email!

Power of Moms

Stitch Fix- Hire Your Own Personal Stylist

Click the picture to request an invite!

Hula Hoop Girl- A MUST Read!

Healthy Snacks to Go ebook (LOVE this)

Smart Sweets

I did it! B90 Day Grad

PR Friendly

I am always looking for new products to share with my readers. If you are a business or company and would like to sponsor a review/giveaway on my website, please contact me at shondaet@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Disclosure

Many of my posts include affiliate links. If you ever make a purchase through these links I receive a small portion at no extra cost to you. I try to share with you any sales and discounts. I appreciate your support. This allows me to have more giveaways. Thanks, Shonda

Facebook

My Life Verse

Matthew 6:33 "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well."